Thread holding and cutting device



March 28, 1961 w \\\\\\\w \\X\\\\\ INVENTOR.

Melvin .L, 4/0126! BY QMWDM 2,977,033 I f r THREAD HOLDING AND CUTTING. DEVICE-1. Melvin L..Jones, 8805 E. Valley Blvd., Rosemead, Califl,

as signor of eighty-seven and one-halfpercent to Stanley F; Triplett and Doris W. Triplett, as jointtenants with rightof survivor-ship I Filed Mar. 31,1958, Ser. No. 725,261

$1 2 Claims. (Cl. 225-6) This invention relates in general to an improvement in a sewing box or kit.

In: particlar the invention is directed to, and it is a major object to provide, a thread holding and cutting device especially adapted-though not so limitedto be mounted on the lid of a, sewing box; there preferably being' a number of such devices somounted, and each device receiving the thread from acorresponding'spool in the box.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a device, as above, which is arranged to normally and frictionally hold the thread in a position for ready manual access and release so as to perm t. a desired length of thread to be drawn from the spool; to then again receive thethread'i'n holding. relation upon a simplemanipulation thereof; and finally to cut off such length of thread upon a pullbeing imposed thereon.

An additional object ofthe invention is to: provide a thread-holding and cutt g device which is capablewithout. structural change--of effectively receiving and holding; thread having different gauges; i.e., thread varyingin diameter from very fine to coarse.

A furtherobject of the invention is to mounteach' of the thread holding and cutting devices on the lid of a sewing box in a position: such that opening and closing of the lid does not materially vary the eifective length 21 hinged at the rear, as at 3, for opening and closing movement.

Intermediate the front and rear of the box I the same is fitted internally with an upstanding, longitudinall partition 4 which defines-in said box-' aforward compartment5 for the reception of; sewingaccessori'es; Rearwardly of the partition 4 the box is formed internally with a row of spool compartments 6-; adjacentcompartments'being separated by transverse partitions 7.

Each compartment 6 contains a spool 8 of threadg'the thread.9 from each such spool 8 leading upwardly through an aperture 10 in the lid 2 closely adjacent its rear edge; and of course similarly disposed relative to the hinge 3. From the aperture 10 the thread 9 leads at a forward and upward diagonal to the related one of the thread holding and cutting devices, each of which is indicated generally at 11.

Each thread holding and cuttingdevice 11 is rigidly mounted on the lid 2 overlying the corresponding compartment 6, but in offset relation to the aperture 1.0, as shown.

Each device 11 comprises a cylindrical base 12 which is relatively short vertically, and which base is aflixed to the lid 2. g

A circular disc 13rests concentrically atop the cylindrical base 12 and is attached to the latter by means of a circular cap plate 14 which engages the top of the disc 13; the cap plate 14 having a central neck 15 which depends through a bore 16 in the disc 13 and thence enters, and is secured in, a socket 17in base 12.

All of the foregoing parts are preferably fabricated of plastic and are secured together by a suitable adheof thethread which runs from within the box, through an aperture in the lid, and thence to said device.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a thread holding and cutting device which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a practical and reliable thread holding and cutting device, and one which will be exceedingly efiective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure andrelative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a sewing box showing a number of the thread holding and cutting devices as mounted on the lid of said box.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional elevation, taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of one of the thread holding and cutting devices.

Fig. 4 is a diametral elevation, mainly in section, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but shows a modification of the device.

Fig. 6 is a diametral elevation, mainly in section, taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 5.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and to the characters of reference marked thereon, and at present to Figs. l-4 inclusive, the numeral 1 indicatesgenerallya rectangular sewing kit or box having a lid downwardly, while the bottom surface 2-1 of the disc 13 is horizontal; thus forming a radiallyinwardly tapering, circumferential, thread receiving groove 22 between the disc 13 and base 12.. The groove 22 preferably tapers at an angle of 3 /2 degrees and such groove feathers out quite close to but short of the neck 15.

At one point in the circumference thereof the disc 13 is formed with a substantially radial, outwardly opening notch 23. A horizontal, substantially rectangular blade 24 is recessed into the top of the disc 13, and confined by the cap plate 14; such blade projecting radially outwardly so that the cutting edge 25 overhangs the notch 23, but is disposed inwardly of the outer end or throat of such notch.

As shown, the cutting edge 25 is straight and extends transversely between opposite sides of the notch 23; the recess in which the blade 24 seats being shown in part at 26.

Each of the thread holding and cutting devices 11 functions as follows:

The thread 9, as aforesaid, normally leads from the aperture 10 at a forward and upward diagonal to the device 11, with the thread engaged in wedging or frictional holding relation in the tapered circumferential groove 22. See Fig. 1.

When a length of thread is needed for sewing, the thread between the aperture 10 and device 11 is grasped and first withdrawn from the groove 22, and then a suflicient length is pulled off of the spool 8 and through such aperture 10.

Nextly, the thread, at the inner end of the length needed for sewing, is woundpartcircleinto the groove 22 and pulled relatively taut, which wedges or Patented Mar. 28 1961 frictionally engages the thread in said groove by reason of the taper of the latter.

-As the circular disc 13 is of lesser diameter than the cylindrical base 12, manual entry of a thread into-the groove 22 can be more readily accomplished, and additionally'such entry is smooth, because of the rounding of the .periphery 18 of'said disc 13 and the upper outer corner or edge 19 of the base 12. v The wound-in portion of the thread is then brought out of the groove 22. upwardly through the notch 23 and across the cutting edge 25 of blade 24. Thereafter, by pulling on the free length of thread, it is easily severed at its inner end by said cutting edge. The wound-in portion of the thread remains in the groove 22, so that the thread again spans between the aperture 10 and device 11 forjeasy manual access when again needed.

By reason of the fact that each aperture 10 is close to the hinge =3, the lid can be opened and closed without substantially altering the eifective length of that part of the thread which so spans between each aperture 10 and the corresponding device 11. V

In the embodiment shown in Figs. and 6 each device comprises a cylindrical base 27, and a top disc 28 related to such base27 in the same manner as in the previously described embodiment, and for the purpose of defining a tapered, circumferential, thread receiving groove 29; Here, however, no cap plate is needed and the neck 30 is integral with the disc 28 and seats in a socket 31 in base 27.

In this embodimenti.e. that of Figs. 5 and 6-the blade 32 is vertically and radially disposed, with its cutting edge 33 outermost; such blade spanning the thread-receiving groove 29 adjacent but short of the periphery of the disc 28. The blade 32 is held in place by embedding part in the base 27 and part in the disc 28.

The instant embodiment of the device is used in substantially the same manner as described in connection 'with the device formed as in 'Figs. 1-4 inclusive, except herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations therefrom may be resortedrto as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired: v i

a 1. A thread holding and cutting device comprising, as a unit, a base, a disc secured on the base,,the,adjacent surface of the base and disc being angularly related to define a relatively narrow but deep inwardly tapering circular groove for wedging engagement with a portion of a thread wound-in by manipulation of a free length of such thread, and a cutter mounted on the unit adjacent the disc with its cutting edge exposed and facing radially out relative to the disc and disposed radially out from the bottom of the groove. t v V 2. A thread holding and cutting device comprising, as a unit, a base, a disc secured on the base, the disc being formed with a circumferentially extending peripheral notch therethrough, and a cutter blade supported on the disc and spanning the disc with its cutting edge facing radially out; the adjacent surfaces of the base and disc being angularly related to define a relatively narrow tapering thread-wedging groove therebetween and extending unobstructedly thereabout; the cutting edge of the. blade being disposed radially out from the bottom of the groove and the notch communicating with said groove.

' References Cited in the file of this patent H UNITED STATES PATENTS France "Jan. 8, 1926 

